Philadelphia Marathon: My Debut = SUCCESS!
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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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 Posted: 11/23/03 - 23:12 Post subject: Philadelphia Marathon: My Debut = SUCCESS!
For those of you who requested a "full" report so you could experience this with me, you are so gonna get your wish.  But pictures will have to wait a week or so.
It was a marathon weekend, folks. Started on Friday when RLAG rolled into town and she, The Paramedic, and I went to our favorite place, The Great American Diner, to GAD, laugh, and drink it up. Mission accomplished. Saturday after a fabulous 'medic breakfast we go to the expo, which was so packed my claustrophobia kicked in  : heart started racing, and I started to sweat and hyperventilate. Literally ran out of the CRAPPY expo with my bib, chip, signature Kid black T-shirt  , and black duffle bag I was so dizzy. Regained composure and drove to the Manayunk Brewing Company for a RR get together. It was great seeing genie, RangerG, and Cappy+kidlets again, and I finally met TriBob who's been avoiding me since PDR 2002  . Had a great time chatting with RangerG, RLAG, the 'medic, and Cappy, while his kids climbed all over me (what's up with RR kids loving me?  ); would've liked chatting with TriBob more. Next year. Packed my crap for the race, watched an Eddie Izzard video, and went to bed.
Today - up before 6. Pleased it's a lot colder than predicted (race temp was in the fifties). Get dressed in signature black, grabbed race crap, and headed to Dunkin' Donuts for a wheat bagel with chive cream cheese and a small coffee. I made the executive choice to fend off a caffeine deprivation headache over possible dehydration, and was SOOO glad later. Drank 20oz of water, too. Got into the city at 7, parked a mile away in a free parking zone (no ticket this race!), and walked to the start. I had tears in my eyes seeing streams of runners walking in a single direction for the same purpose. I wonder how many would realize their dreams, how many would fall apart, and how many would just miss the mark and wonder what they could've done better. I was determined to be part of group A.
Got in a portajohn line at 715. Chatted up a fellow runner until my chance to go came at 750. He said, "Based on what you project your pace to be, if anything is bothering you at mile 8, take some of your Motrin as there's a huge downhill at 10 that's a killer." Wise advice. But I get ahead of myself. I mosey to the start, see a place to get in and see the 5min pace marker. Keep on moseyin'. After a lot of pushing and poking (mostly from nonrunners  ) I decide to just jump in at the 8min marker and stay on the right side. BANG! The gun goes off and we ... stand in place. 3.5 minutes later I start my race. Every mile was dedicated to someone who has significantly helped me with running, and every one of those individuals was with me during "their" mile.
"Remember not to go out too fast. If it feels like if you go any slower you'll stop, you're going the right speed." - Floridaboiler
Mile 1 was all mine: I started the journey on my own, and I was starting this odyssey alone. People are whipping past me at the speed of light, including a jump roper and two chicks with felt devil horn headbands and yarn wigs. This passing of The Kid continues through Chinatown and down to Penns Landing. About mile 2 (dedicated to my late best friend) or so the pack thins and I'm literally left on my own. I am in heaven! I train alone, I love to race alone, as there's no one to bother me. Most of all, I know the people yelling "GO KID GO!" are cheering just for me. I run parallel to the Ben Franklin Bridge (**snap** goes my disposable camera) and think how beautiful it is from below. I turn right and run along the water for a while.
"Mrs., when I grow up I want to be a runner just like you." - little redheaded girl on my DePue Avenue running route.
I toss off my husband's old flannel shirt and run mile 3 with RLAG, and turn right and go from 2nd and Chestnut all the way through town to 34th & Chestnut. I run uneventfully, running miles 4 with my MIL, 5 with my FIL, and 6 with Sandy Cheeks. I'm all smiles and having a blast. I pass a few people and cross the bridge and turn right in University City, where my friend Josh joins me for mile 7. I cross Market Street where the cops stop traffic just for me as I'm still running alone. I scream, "How f--kin' cool is this? I'm shutting down traffic all by myself!" The cops laugh and cheer me on. I start mile 8 with monk, traditionally always my worst mile mentally, and he helps me up the hill/not hill. I can hear him saying "You think that's a f--kin' hill? You Philly people don't KNOW from hills!" He's right: after Central Park, this hill is a Non-Event. I run through Drexel's fraternity row, where the Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers are out on the porch screaming, blowing horns, and playing noisemakers. I hear a dude scream, "GO HOT CHICK IN BLACK, GO!" and I smile.
**snap** goes the disposable camera for I think the final time (I forgot I had it) at 34th & Mantua as I know I'll never come back here except for the race  and head up and over the bridge to the zoo. The zoo parking attendants are whooping and hollering. I smile at them and slowly overtake a few more runners. Mile 9 I met up with Kattzoo and I get into the groove, almost with an audible **click**, and settle in for an interesting ride.
"El Machine - that bunny's got nothing on you." - TriBob
Finally I reach Fairmount Park and am thrilled as I have to "go". I figure since the portajohns are three deep with wimmins, I'll have a better chance in the woods. J. Geil's "Piss on the Wall" comes on the MP3 and I figure it's a sign and run to the side . After nearly sliding in mud and falling into a ravine  I grab a thick tree supported by Dancer (  sorry, T) and try not to laugh when a fellow runner dude passes by me and looks the other way, embarrassed. Dancer helps me down that steep hill portajohn line dude warned me about, and she hands me off to Sahara at 11 where I start to pick people off. Mile 12 begins the first return to the start, and pffff and I have a great time. Po-Po leads the way during mile 13 to the start line; we hit the halfway point in 2:44. Not too shabby. I miss RLAG and The Paramedic, but I'm beaming. They saw me and said I looked great.
"I am so psyched for you and even living vicariously through you." - Sahara
No doubt, as I felt it. But then .... We start the long out and back climb to Manayunk. Out and backs are sooo not my gig; give me loop de loops and curves any day. I cannot bear to look at the fastios on the other side of the road, near the end of their race, because they look awful. Truly frightening, and I decide to not look at them because I'll no doubt be discouraged. My mom and dad go with me on miles 14-15. Past the stupid antiabortionists, making another appearance this year . Very appropriate time and place to show your pictures of aborted fetuses ; wouldn't City Hall be better? I hold my ribbon stating "CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF ROE V. WADE" silently above my head. People on the other side are screaming, cheering, patting me on the back. I run on.
My knees, despite the Motrin, are starting to really hurt at this point. Weird, as they ached during training, but never really hurt. I pop a second and run on. I managed to make it to 16 with rolling rock, but at this point I was a big ball of hurt. Pebbs pushed, and BamBam pulled me through 17, Floridaboiler through 18 and I overtake the headbanded ladies. Through mile 19 I said to genie, "I would give my left nut for a Percoset right now" and she 100% got what I meant. My eye doctors, the Doctors Mullin, got me through 20 (get it? 20/20? HA!). I grimace through mile 21 with my friend Cary. As I pass the jumproper I am in agony. I have NEVER felt pain like this in my entire life. In training my feet hurt, or my back, or my rib cage from the sports bra. Nope, now it's all knees, all the time. But I didn't cry. I was very thankful for the half cup of beer some guy gave me (yeah, only me). But according to Jim who ran sort've with me, I did talk to you guys a lot. And apparently a lot of these five miles was dedicated to the word f--k. I asked Jim, "Why the f--k are we doing this to ourselves?" He smiled and replied, "Because we can. And we WILL be back for more." I start to believe he might be right.
"Why can't you do this race? The only person stopping you from running it is you. Just do what you know you can do." - Monk
I pass a girl crying hysterically, she's in so much pain. Her boyfriend who had finished way before us was pedaling his bike next to her, slowly coaching her through it. I said, "Dude, if I could pedal, or do anything besides shuffle at this point, I would buy that bike from you for $10,000." The girl smiled and laughed. I hope that helped her. Mile 22 I see coach PackerBacker, smiling and waiting for me. This is the furthest I've ever run, and I'm glad he can usher me over the threshold into a newest furthest. I start feeling a lot better, despite slowing down a bit, but the smile returns so I don't care. I know I have this race in the bag. Mile 23 brings nolefan who sent me 26.2 positive vibes this week which meant the world to me. She also brought Renegade, who helped rejuvenate me immensely:
Mile 24 was all about Death to the Fat Girl. I had a long chat with her (I am slow as molasses, you know). This conversation will remain with me and only me, as I wasn't particularly nice. I had written a poem to her before the marathon, and during this mile tore it to bits and threw it on the course, finally leaving Fat Girl behind. I had thought about burning it, but envisioned some embers making their way to other runners. I didn't want to go down in marathon history as The Girl Who Set the Runners Ablaze .
I pass "Ginny" who is having an awful go of it. Her runningmate is stroking her back, slowly urging her on step by step. I say, "Come on, Ginny, you can do it! Just 20 more minutes!" She gives me a breathless high five and her friend said thank you for that. People around me are crying, moaning, wailing. More than a few people are weaving, falling down, and puking. But by now I am feeling fantastic. SOOO much better than at mile 16. As I pass the twenties I scream "w00t! I likes the big numbahs!" and the people around me are digging it. As I passed each mile marker for the teen miles on the other side, I gave them all the finger.  Mile 25 I run with The Paramedic. He's been with me the longest, and knows my every fault and my every strength. His words last night, "I know you can do this," made me beam with pride.
I hit the mile 25 marker and think, "Wow, this is great training for an ultra." And I meant it. I am amazed to see so many people still here cheering us on. I say so to several people, and one guy says, "This is all about you! Everyone around you is walking, you're still running: go get that medal!" My quads have been asking me all along when I'd let them loose. I choose to go with it and I start to pour it on. I climb the last bump in the road, knowing the finish line is near. I pull my banner out of my pack. On it I had listed every race I've ever run, and all the names listed here by mile. Knowing the mental game would be the toughest, I realize the smartest thing I could've done was to dedicate these miles, and pretend to run each one with each person, because it was easier to focus on one mile rather than all of them together. Wise choice indeed.
The last 1.2 are all for me. I let my mind go, thinking of all the things I've done to get here, all the sacrifices, the pain, the joy, that I'm about to finish my 30th career race in style and with sheer happiness. My thoughts are coming a mile a minute and run into each other. "Iamanathlete-Iamstrong-Iambeautiful-Icandoanythingnow-Iampowerful-IAMAMARATHONER." A whole bunch of private stuff that will stay with me forever.
"... just you wait until you cross the finish line. You can't believe how amazing it'll feel. Knowing all the hard work you've endured I know you'll do great." - Dancer
I am feeling fantastic as I round the last corner. I pull off my headphones for the final .2 to get the full experience of the crowd yelling. I see RLAG jumping up and down with such ferocity I think she's going to take someone out. I see my dear sweet husband smiling, taking pictures, and I break into the best sprint I can. I pass three people in the chute and cross the finish line with a huge smile, arms raised, and let out a big shout of "F--K YEAH!" I get my medal placed around my neck, grab my mylar blanket, and break down, revelling in how far I've come and how much I've accomplished in the past year and a half.
Final stats: very pleased as I wanted to maintain a 12:30 pace: 5,095 of 5,317, beating my usual 4% of fellow runners, in (based on chiptime) 5:24:46 (2:44:06 half, 2:54:46 mile 14, 4:08:11 mile 20), 12:24 pace. Not the fastest, but not the slowest. And a second half nearly 3.5 minutes faster than the first, thus continuing my Queen of the Negative Split streak. I never hit the wall, never really felt as if the finish was not within my reach. For five miles I hurt pretty badly, but for the most part I enjoyed myself immensely. I seriously had a great time for most of it. I never walked once (fearing I wouldn't be able to start again, fearing I'd disappoint myself) save 15-20 seconds at each water/Gatorade station because I have yet to master drinking from Official Race Cup. I ran with everyone who's supported me and believed in me, and achieved my singular goal of finally ridding myself of the Fat Girl. I can now move on to new challenges, new distances, all with a new perspective.
And I am so much better for it.
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Sahara
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Joined: 17 May 2002
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Posted: 11/23/03 - 23:34 Post subject:
YOU, elkid, are a MARATHONER!
F'in amazing you are! F'in amazing!!
Very moving report. Dare I be proud that you were picking people off in our mile?
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 00:14 Post subject:
[scroll:436bab85e6]    Way to go Marathoner!!!! YOU DID IT!!! [/scroll:436bab85e6]
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elkid
Member
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 00:32 Post subject:
here's da splitz: 1 12:48 / 2 13:28 / 3 12:28 / 4 12:43 / 5 12:25 / 6 12:40 / 7 12:25 / 8 12:33 / 9 12:01 / 10 13:19 (trip in woods) / 11 11:52 / 12 12:01 / 13 12:04 / 14 11:58 / 15 11:43 / 16 12:07 / 17 12:16 / 18 12:06 / 19 12:38 / 20 12:34 / 21 12:29 / 22 12:55 / 23 12:22 / 24 12:42 / 25 12:21 / 26.2 14:28 (12:03)
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christa0120
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Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 183
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 00:44 Post subject:
OMG! That was THE most incredible race report I have ever read.
And just when I thought a half marathon was enough, you inspired me to run a full. I don't know whether to thank you or curse you.
But...CONGRATULATIONS
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airehead
Oompa Loofah
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Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 18788
Location: Between here and eternity...
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 01:54 Post subject:
You did good. No, you did f'ing AWESOME!
I am impressed and proud. I can't even begin to convey how much!
You rock. 
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Noley
AZhat
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Joined: 16 Aug 2003
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 02:13 Post subject:
Congratulations Lauri and for once...I'm speechless!
You've done so much for yourself and certainly inspired others!
I'm proud of what you did today and can only hope to do a job half as good one day.
You had the strength, stamina, and courage to do it! Congrats!
Here's one last nolefan hurrah for your 26.2!
~Marcie
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 06:06 Post subject:
Congratulations, and welcome to the marathon club
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Floridaboiler
POTFH
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Joined: 18 May 2002
Posts: 11322
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 06:08 Post subject:
I will have to read this at night whenI have more time. Congratulations on completing your marathon!
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16217
Location: unknown zone
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 07:48 Post subject:
I am so proud of you.
completely and totally.
saaaaah-weeeeeeeeeeeeet inspiration baby.
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
Posts: 20588
Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 07:53 Post subject:
way to go
I cannot believe you remembered all of those peopl.
Thanks also for the personal call after the race
Welcome to the elite 1% of the people in america who have done a marathon.
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robp
Pyromaniac
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Joined: 26 Jul 2002
Posts: 16241
Location: Waiting in line at the beer store...
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 08:33 Post subject:
Good job Kid.
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gretriever
Hipster Doofus
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 19384
Location: A moving target in a firing range.
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 09:03 Post subject:
I knew you could do it, Laur!
More important, you knew it, too. There's the success of it all. We're all proud of you!
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Happy2tri
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Joined: 02 May 2003
Posts: 1003
Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 09:12 Post subject:
YOU ROCK!!!! Go on with your bad self marathon girlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!
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brie k
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 5661
Location: where the wild things are
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Posted: 11/24/03 - 09:30 Post subject:
Incredible race, incredible report. Congratulations, you did a super fine job.
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